Current converting vibrator



June 1940- F. J. STEVENS El AL 2,205,315

CURRENT CONVERTING VIBRATOK Filed March 19, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7.2

32 E V r O 0 g 2 5 /o 3 /2 E A? /7 /7 June 18, 1940. F. J. STEVENS ET AL 2,205,315

CURRENT CONVERTING VIBRATOR Filed March 19, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuc/vvbo D" Fray/(J Stem/e 8 & W79. alaysop, (/72 rsmaimiaiaao UNITED STATES CURRENT CONVERTING VIBBATOR Frank 1. Stevens and William G. Layson, In. Chattanooga, Team, allinorr-to American Lava Corporation, Chattanooga, Tenn a corporation of Tennessee Application March 19, 1938, Serial No. 197,000

3 Claims; (oi. zoo-9c) d Figure 3 is a vertical or longitudinal sectional The invention relates to electrical apparatus and has special reference to vibrators for converting current of one voltage to another and used in association with a transformer and, in some instances, a rectifier depending upon the desired character of the output current and the use to which the device is to be put in actual service.

We are aware that various devices for this general purpose are on the market but in every instance with which we are familiar the parts are mounted either on the side of a panel or upon a metal frame, a large number of insulating elements being necessarily interposed between the contact mountings and other parts, this construction being objectionable in that such a large number of parts is required and for the further reason that there is at least some possibilty of puncture of such relatively small pieces of insulation with consequent-short circuiting.

It is with the above facts in view that the principal object of the invention'is to provide a vibrator structure in which all the parts. aremounted upon a single integral frame of insulating material, thereby making it unnecessary to use a multiplicity of insulating strips, disks or the like and thereby not only greatly reducing the number of parts required but simplifying the construction so that the device will be inexpensive as well as easy to assemble, the vibrator ele- .ment being, in addition, easily capable of replacement in-case of necessity.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a vibrator structure embodying a supporting frame of insulating material which may be pressed, molded or cast depending upon the exact nature of the material, this frame having an open central portion within which are located the various parts of the device so that they are substantially enclosed by the frame.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of this character which will be not only simple and inexpensive, as above mentioned, but will be positive in action, efiicient and durable inwjservice, and a general improvement in the art.

'To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages, the invention preferably consists'inthe details of construction and the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimedand illustrated .in the accompanying drawings in. which:. i Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, Figure 2 is an elevation of the-opposite side,

view taken on substantially the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a horizontal or crm sectional view taken on substantially the line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 isan elevation of the insulating frame alone, showing a modified form'in which it is open or U-shaped instead of closed,

Figure 6'is an elevation showing this modified form and a variation as regards the magnet,

Figure 7 "is a cross-sectional view taken alon substantially the line 1-1 of figure 6,

' Figure 8 is a side elevation of another slightly modified form of insulating frame shown assembled with a magnet and reed,

Figure 9 is an end elevation of the device show in Figure 8.

Referring more particularly to the drawings we have shown the device as comprising a rectangular frame I. of insulating material of any character and which might be lava, porcelain, hard rubber, Bakelite, glass, steatite or anything else of a similar or allied nature either cast, carved, molded, pressed or otherwise formed into the desired shape. This insulating frame is here disclosed as having an open center ll within which are mounted certain of the elements to be hereinafter described. It is conceivable that the frame might be open or U-shaped if preferred. Located at one end of the frame I l is an electro-magnet structure including a pair of L- shaped metal plates i2 secured to the frame as by means of bolts l3 passing therethrough and equipped with nuts H. The free ends ii of the plates I2 are directed toward each other and constitute pole pieces which are spaced somewhat apart. Embraced between the L-shaped plates I2 is a magnet coil IS.

The opposite end of the frame is. preferably but not necessarily recessed from one side as shown at I! and secured within this recess, or upon the frame if not recessed, as by bolts l8 and nuts i9, is an elongated flexible metal strip 20 which constitutes a vibratory reed and which has its free end equipped with an L-shaped armature 2| cooperating with and actuated by the pile pieces 15 of the electro-magnet li.

Likewise supported at the upper portion of the frame, that is to say that part thereof opposite the electro-magnet is a condenser 22 of conventional form and of appropriate capacity and which lies closely against the recessed face or side of the insulating frame.

In addition to the foregoing, there are providedtwo or more spring contacts depending upon the purpose of the installation though two, indicated at 23 and 24 are shown asmounted, supported or secured'upon the recessed side of the frame, that is to say the side where the condenser is located, by means of bolts or screws 25 and 28 carrying nuts 21 and 28. These contacts are preferably backed up by springs 29 and 30 so as to have suflicient resilience, these springs underlying the contacts and being secured to the frame by the same bolts or screws 25 and 26 provided for mounting the contacts.

Located at the opposite side of the frame from that where the contacts 23 and 24 are mounted is an additional contact 3| held in place by a screw 32 carrying a nut 33 and backed up by a leaf spring 34 held in place by the same means. It should of course be understood that wherever the contacts 23, 24 and 3i engage the vibratirg reed there should be provided buttons or contact elements of such material as not to corrode or oxidize readily as the result of the practically inevitable sparking which will occur when the device is in operation. Of couse the purpose of the condenser is to reduce the sparking but it is practically impossible to prevent it entirely.

The electrical connections would necessarily vary depending upon the exact purpose to which the device is put, that is to say whether it is employed for the operation of an automobile or other radio, for actuating a signal device or flashing neon lights which may form part of signs or other devices. However, in the present instance we have shown a circular or cylindrical base element 35 of metallic shell form containing a pad 36 of sponge rubber or the like and equipped with four prongs 31, 38, 39 and 40 adapted to be engaged within a socket such as is commonly provided in radio sets. The prong 31 is shown as connected by a conductor 4i with the contact 3|, the prong 38 is disclosed as connected by a conductor 42 with one terminal of the electro-magnet coil IS, the prong 39 is shown as connected by a conductor 43 with the reed 20 which is connected by a conductor 44 with the contact 3|. The contact 3i is also connected by a conductor 45 with the other terminal of the electro-magnet coil "5. The prong 40, behind the prong 38 in Figure 1, is connected by a conductor 46 with the contact 24. The condenser is shunted across the reed and the contact 23 and its purpose is to reduce sparking between the vibratory reed and the contacts engaged thereby. It is intended that the entire device be enclosed within an appropriate shell, casing or housing 41 indicated simply by the dot and dash lines in Figure 1. Mechanical details such as this may of course be varied within considerably wide limits.

The socket within which the device is mounted may be, or is similar to such as is provided for the reception of the well knownpronged radio tubes. Such is, however, not shown as it forms no part of the present invention. In so far as the operation of the device is concerned it will of course be understood that the reed 20 will vibrate back and forth upon the energization and deenergization of the electro-magnet coil IS, the circuit to and through the coil being made and broken in exactly the same manner as in a buzzer or electric bell. This is the function of one of the contacts. The circuit is alternately made and broken through the other two contacts at theopposite sides of the reed so as to provide the output current which may be fed through a suitable transformer, not shown, for stepping up the voltage for producing a higher voltage alternating current. The device of course functions as a rectifier but, if for any reason it should be so desired, some auxiliary rectifier could be associated therewith, in so far as the frame itself is concerned, though the electrical connection is such that the device is fully complete in itself without any necessity for adjuncts.

In the modification disclosed in Figures 5, 6 and 7, it will be observed that the supporting frame, instead of being entirely closed as in Figures 1 to 4, is more of a U-shape, that is to say while this frame I is rectangular at its exterior and has an opening H it has an interrupted portion 48 at which the electro-magnet 49 is mounted, this magnet being located between and secured to metal plates 50, in turn secured against opposite sides of the frame as by screws 51. In other respects this modification of the invention is substantially the same as the first described form and functions in identically the same manner.

In the modification disclosed in Figures 8 and 9, the insulating frame lfl is substantially L shape, the reed 20 being connected to one of the arms of the frame by a plurality of bolts or rivets I8. The magnet is connected to the other arm of the frame Ill by a pair of metal plates Sill which are adapted to straddle the arm and are connected thereto by bolts 52. The magnet is also preferably provided with a pair of L-shaped end plates similar to the plates I2 illustrated in Figure l and operating to form the pole pieces for the reed or strip 20 and 2|. In this 'form the frame is adapted to support the other operating parts also illustrated in Figure 1 and since the form acts in substantially the same manner as do the other modifications, further specific description is believed unnecessary. I

As mentioned above, the device is capable of employment for a wide variety of purposes as for instance it may be used to step up a six (6) volt automobile storage battery current to one hundred and ten (110) volts for the operation of an A. C. radio set, to step up such six (6) volt current and rectify it to provide a pulsating direct current, these various possibilities depending upon whether or not a transformer and/or a rectifier are provided. It is on account of the numerous possibilities of use that we have not disclosed any diagrammatic views illustrating the device in use, it being our thought that the principal feature of the invention is the provision of the single open centered frame of any preferred insulating material upon which the various contacts and other parts are directly mounted and which will preclude any necessity for the employment of sheets, strips, disks or other pieces of mica or any other insulating material such as are commonly used in devices of this general class. Moreover, it will be observed that the frame of insulating material of the preferred form substantially surrounds the electro-magnet, vibrator and other parts so as to enclose the same. It is thought that the ease of mounting the various parts as indicated owing to the provision of the single insulating frame will render the device extremely simple and inexpensive to make and assemble and in addition will reduce danger of any short circuits such as might result from puncturing of the relatively thin insulating elements used in most devices for this general purpose.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art without further explanation.

While we have shown and described some of the preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the disclosure is merely an exemplification of the principles involved as the right is reserved to make all such changes in the details of construction as will widen the field of utility and increase the adaptability of the device provided such changes constitute no departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. An electrical vibrator for current conversion, comprising a one-piece frame of electrical insulating material having a central opening, an electro-magnet comprising a pair of plates mounted upon opposite sides of one end of said frame and having their free ends directed toward each other within said opening to define pole pieces, a vibratory reed recessed into the other end of the frame and located entirely within said opening and having its free end carrying an armature cooperating with said pole pieces, a pair of contacts mounted upon one side of said frame and having free ends extending into said opening adjacent said reed for cooperation therewith upon vibration thereof, and an additional contact mounted upon the other side of said frame and having a free end extending into said opening for cooperation with said reed.

2. An electrical vibrator for current conversion, comprising a one-piece frame of electrical insulating material having a central opening, an electro-magnet comprising a pair of plates mounted upon opposite sides of one end of said frame and having their free ends directed toward each other within said opening to define pole pieces, a vibratory reed recessed into the other end of the frame and located entirely within said opening and having its free end carrying an armature cooperating with said pole pieces, a pair of contacts mounted upon one side of said frame and having free ends extending into said opening adjacent said reed for cooperation therewith upon vibration thereof, and an additional contact mounted upon the other side of said frame and having a free end extending into said opening for cooperation with said reed, a base carrying a plurality of prongs adapted for engagement within a socket, said prongs being respectively connected with said electro-magnet, said reed and said contacts.

3. An electrical vibrator for current conversion, comprising a one-piece frame of electrical insulating material having a central opening, an electro-magnet comprising a pair of plates mounted upon opposite sides of one end of said frame and having their free ends directed toward each other within said opening to define pole pieces, a vibratory reed recessed into the other end of the frame and located entirely within saidopening and having its free end carrying an armature cooperating with said pole pieces,--a pair of contacts mounted upon one side of said frame and having free ends extending into said opening adjacent said reed for cooperation therewith upon vibration thereof, additional contact means mounted upon the other side of said frame and extending into said opening for cooperation with said reed, a base carrying a plurality of prongs adapted for engagement within a socket, said prongs being respectively connected with said electro-magnet, said reed and said contacts, and an enclosing metallic shell engaged 

